As always, the download link is located near the bottom of the post.

If you’ve seen the film Rockers,

then you know who Kiddus I is. For those of you who haven’t seen the Jamaican-made reggae reinterpretation of The Bicycle Thief , then I’d recommend that you go see it immediately. Within the first 30 minutes of the film you will be introduced to Kiddus I, the dreadlocked musician laying down vocals in Jack Ruby‘s studio. The clip from the film can be seen here:

It’s a fantastic scene that always sends chills down my spine; Kiddus’ vocals tend to have that effect on me. The scene is also notable for documenting the manufacturing process of making vinyl records. If you want to, you can use your imagination with me and imagine that the record pressed in the video is the one that I have digitized for you all tonight.

It’s nothing too special really. Just a 12″ Single with two of Kiddus I’s songs produced by Lee Perry at the Black Ark Studio. It’s a perfect match between Lee Perry’s virtuosic production and Kiddus I’s soothing voice. The first song, Security in the Streets is one of those songs that never fails to get me up and dancing. But there’s more to it and it’s something that’s missing from the dance music of today. There’s a positive message of freedom, compassion, community, peace and a hint of anarchy. The song is about a community taking responsibility into their own hands and looking after themselves. It’s about combating crime with the power of goodwill and love instead of violence. It’s an empowering song. So play it next time you feel that “get-together spirit” with the ones that you love.

The next song is “Too Fat”, a song mainly about greed. Think of it almost as a reggae version of “Taxman” by The Beatles. It’s a mellow song, with Kiddus getting soulful over a typically groovy Perry “riddim”.

Here is what I know about Wilfred Walker: he played a bamboo saxophone that he crafted himself from scraps; he used his homemade instrument to play his own brand of Mento music under the name Sugar Belly. In the 1950s in Jamaica, before Reggae and Ska would have their day, people were shaking it up and dancing to Mento music. For those of you new to Mento, like me, music shares a lot with Calypso music from neighboring Trinidad and Tobago. This would be a great companion album with a previous post on this blog, The Fabulous McClevertys. Unlike the McCleverty album, this record is completely instrumental. It is a lot of fun and very easy listening. Like most Caribbean folk music, I find that it really suits itself for daytime playing. Throw this on in the car/bike as you cruise around town or even play it through a boombox on the beach. Sugar Belly is a rarity in record stores but also in that he is a self-taught musician playing his self-made instrument. That’s truly DIY.

This is a great set of first-wave Ska instrumentals featuring legendary composer/trombonist, Don Drummond and The Skatalites. Drummond was a founding member of The Skatalites and composed many of their hits up until he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend and subsequently submitted to a mental asylum. Drummond died in the asylum a few years later. According to Wikipedia, some sources believe that Drummond was killed in the asylum for the murder he committed.

Cover

Despite the tragic events that capped his life, Don Drummond is remembered as a leading visionary in early Jamaican Ska music of the 1960s. His musical style has influenced generations of Ska and Reggae musicians and continues to do so today.

This album is a greatest hits compilation put out on the Treasure Isle/Sonic Sounds label. The jazzy improvisational trombone work on this album lend itself to repeated listens. These songs will never get old. So do yourself a favor, put on your dancing shoes and get down to these fantastic Ska jams. This is a great record to play at your next party or even just around the house. If you are used to listening/dancing to reggae music be prepared to dance to a faster beat, this music doesn’t lend itself to being completely stoned out, but a little buzz wouldn’t hurt. For those of you who don’t live in the tropics, throw this record on to be transported to a totally different time and place. That is what great music is all about, right? Enjoy. Download below.